It's gotten really cold here in Oklahoma and I've noticed that when I try to drive after the car has been siting for a while there seems to be a resistance before it drives. It feels like the brakes are still applied and then you hear a loud pop and the car will drive. After that breaking is unaffected and working normal, no grinding or resistance while driving. Anybody have this problem too? I've never had this happen to me

 

Cold weather motorer here. Totally happens that way with some brake compounds. Never had any ill effects from it, but can't say that I love it either.

 

Stop using the parking brake.

 

I would not follow this advice. I've had hills turn motors before with a not tight enough parking brake. An auto, yes. 6-speed, use the parking brake.

 

I don't use the e-brake here for that reason. Luckily, it's flat up here so I just leave it in gear.

 

Yea, well - no duh.

But flat level parking. like 99% of where people park.. its generally accepted that if you have water in the parking brake cables - they freeze.

Ever see a brake rotor catch fire? I have, it spreads to the bearings, I've even see it catch a tire on fire as the car goes down the road.

And in freezing temps.

I'm talking about well below freezing marks here, not 33 degree nights with no wind.

Water migrates into the cables it sits in the low part of the cable and will freeze solid.

I never use my parking brake in super cold weather - no matter the trans.

(of course in normal temps, always use a parking brake, its what keeps the rear brake adjuster functional and from locking up - yes, Mini rear integrated calipers is what I am talking about in Gen 1 and Gen 2 cars.)

OH LOOK AN ARTICLE. - http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p...cy-brakes3.htm

If you saw the size of the parking paw in automatic transaxales you'd poop your pants - and never just leave it in park.

 

I always use mine, even in super cold weather. I even pull it tight as the difference in temps allows the rotors to cool even further, contracting, and loosening the grip of the pads.

My road is not flat where I park, nor is the driveway. It likely is not flat for 99% of folks out there either.

Not a bad article. Locked up, frozen brakes are definitely not a good thing. Neither is a car rolling down the road, turning the motor over as it goes (especially backwards!).

Pick your side and take the risk with either.

 

Ding ding ding we have a winner.

 

Thx for sharing the article, now that I think about it I did have the parking break on (out of habit) will try leaving it in gear and see how that works

 

I have to say something...

B-R-A-K-E-S : The things that stop your vehicle.

B-R-E-A-K-S : What your vehicle does before you take it to a repair shop.

 

I'm not familiar with the MINI handbrake setup yet, but on my old GTI the park brakes would freeze on in the winter. Turns out each of the two cables had a little rubber accordion boot to keep out moisture and road crap, and both the boots were weathered and split. Once I replaced both cables, the problem was solved. You may want to check under your MINI and make sure the handbrake cables are in good shape.

Spridget

 

Question for those that have gotten into the system: where is the sensor that triggers the hand brake on warning? Would it know if the handbrake did not release the pads (I.e. the cable didn't move)?

 

Usually there's a switch right under the handle somewhere.

Spridget

 

Yup, and btw on the GTI tip,

I wrote this DIY years ago.

http://www.vaglinks.com/Docs/VW/MKII...eplacement.pdf

 

Dan -

Yeah, that looks familiar! I distinctly remember reaching under the rear of the GTI in the middle of January and releasing the park brakes with a hammer to the levers. My, how we laughed.

;-)

Spridget

 

The e-brake in the mini is integrated into the regular rear brake caliper. It's not a drum brake inside the rear rotor like some cars. So when you're pulling the e-brake you're using the rear brake caliper to hold the car in place.

If you don't have a flat place to park just carry a wheel chock. A small length of 2x4 typically works fine.